Mine car



H. W. SANFORD June 29 1926.

MINE GAR Filed Nov. 21. 1921 4 Sheets-Shut 1 H. w. SANFORD June 29 MINECAR Filed Nov. 21. 1921 -4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 29 1926. 1,590,255

H. w. SANFORD mus CAR Filed Nov. 21. 1921 (Sheets-Sheet 4 j'iPatentedJune 29, 1926.

.gk-" UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I-IUGI-I W. SANFORD, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

MINE CAR.

Application filed November 2'1, 1921.

My improvement relates particularly to mine cars which are to be turnedor tilted bodily for the discharge of the contents of the car.

The main object of my invention is to produce a mine car which isadapted to be turned or tilted for the discharge of its contents, asabove stated, and which has its floor or bottom low relative to thetrack, in order that for a given head room the car will hold a maximumload, and for the sake of greater stability, carry the load close to thetrack rails, and a secondary object is to produce a car which possessesflexibility allowing partial twisting of the car body to permit one axleof the car to incline out of the horizontal plane of the other axle, inorder that all the wheels of the car may at all times bear fully uponthe track rails, notwithstanding irregularities in the height of therails. In this connection it is to be remembered that the axles of manycars of this type are not swiveled but rest in bearings which are fixedon the car body; and in this connection it is further to be rememberedthat in mining practice the track rails are usually not level nor wellsupported, a large part of the trackage being temporary and constructedand maintained with the least labor. And it is also to be noted thatwhenever one wheel of such a car does not rest well on the track, thatcar is apt to leave the track and thus wreck itself and the train ofwhich it forms a part.

To these ends, the car, in its preferred form. includes strong end sillsand strong side sills, and two axles, and a floor, the side sills havingtheir ends joined to the end sills and said four sills forming a frameof ample strength for resisting all strains, including the weight of theload, end thrust, and longitudinal train pulls, and the axles beingcombined with the side sills above the bottom of said sills, and themajor part of the floor being secured to the side sills below the levelof the axles and the floor being only heavy enough to support thecontents of the car and the floor being light enough to give it suchflexibility as will permit the twisting of the frame formed by the endsills and side sills to allow the wheels to remain in engagement withthe track rails, although there are irregularities in the track, asabove mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings,

Serial No. 516,791.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mine car embodying my improvement, partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same car, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the end sills and side sills combined to formthe frame of the car, with two axles applied to said frame;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one end of said frame;

Fig. 5 is an upright longitudinal section on the line, 5-5, of Fig. 3,the floor plates having been applied;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating the manner of joining theend sills and the side sills;

Fig. 8 is an upright transverse section along one of the axles of thecar on the line, 8-8, of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 9 is an upright transverse section on the'line, 99, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an upright section on the line, 10-10, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal upright section of a car having a floor of adifferent form;

Fig. 12 is an upright section on the line, 1212, of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal upright section of a car having the floor instill another form;

Fig. 14 is an upright transverse section of a part of the structure ofFig. 13 on the line, 14:14:, thereof.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, which relate to a mine cardesigned to be tilted forward on a tipple for the discharge of its load,A, A, represent end sills having a bumper, B, projecting outwardlytherefrom, a draw bar element, D, also projecting outwardly from saidend sills and located over said bumper, truss members, E, cornerstiifeners, F and Gr. and gusset stiffeners, H and I, all preferablyformed of one integral casting.

The aforesaid bumper, B, is swelled outwardly as indicated by thedrawing, and immediately over the central portion of the bumper is theaforesaid draw bar element, D, provided with a coupling pin opening, Dwhich is directly over a similar opening, B of the bumper, a space beingleft between the draw bar, D, and the bumper, B, for the reception of acoupling link, the coupling pin being designed to drop through theopenings, D and B The corner stifleners, F and G, which have beendescribed as being part of the integral casting, are to be securelyriveted to the longitudinal sills, J and J, the latter being slotted asshown at J to afford space for the gusset stiffener-s, H and I.

The side sills, J and J are to be so heavy as to make them amply strongto resist downward strain or drooping and to resist endwise thrust andalso train pull. At the same time, the frame consisting of the sidesills and the end sills must possess sufficient flexibility to allow theaxles to incline independently of each other, whereby the car wheels atthe same side of the car are allowed to assume different levels toconform to variations or irregularities in level of the track on whichthe car runs.

The two axles, L, are arranged transversely to the side sills and restin bearings, L secured to the side sills by bolts, L In the form shownin the drawings, said bearings are applied flatwise to the outer sidesof the side sills and extend through the sills. On each end of each axleis a track wheel, L This arrangement brings the axles above the level ofthe lower edges of the side sills.

At the rear end of the carthe left hand end as shown in Figs. 1 and 5afloor plate, 0, is placed between the side sills and extends from oneside sill to the other from the rear end sill forward at the level ofthe lower edges of the side sills to a line approximately midway betweensaid end sill and the rear axle, L. Thence said plate extends forwardand obliquely upward to or nearly to the upper face of the rear axle.Along each side edge, said plate has an upward-directed flange, O, whichbears against the adjacent side rail and is secured thereto by bolts, 0

The middle floor plate, N, extends below and rearward of the rear axle,L, and along the lower edge of the side sills to a point between the twoaxles, and then said plate extends obliquely upward and forward to ornearly to the upper face of the forward axle, L. At each side edge, theplate, N, has an upward-directed flange, l\ which bears against theadjacent inner face of the side sill and is secured to said sill bybolts or rivets, N Along its rear edge rearward of the rear axle, saidplate has an upwarddirected flange, N which rises to or nearly to thefloor plate, 0.

A front floor plate, M, is placed between the side sills and extendsfrom behind the forward axle, L, downward and forward below said axleand upward and across the rear part of the forward end sill. Along theinner face of each end sill, said plate has an upward-directed flange, Mbearing against said face and secured thereto by bolts or rivets, MAlong its rear edge, and rearward of the forward axle, said plate has anupward-directed flange, M rising to or nearly to the plate, N.

A movable door, not shown, is to be placed above the forward end sill.Said door is to be opened when the car is to be tilted forward for thedischarge of the load.

It is to be understood that the slant of the inclined floor sectionsrelative to the horizontal plane of the car is to be such as to allowall the coal to slide from the car when the car is tilted forward on thetipple. In this connection we must take into consideration the slant atwhich the car is placed by the tipple.

The form of car shown by Figs. 11 and 12 is intended to be tiltedsidewise in a tipple which rotates 011 an axial line which is parallelto the length of the track.

A plate, P, extends from each end sill between the side sills along thelower edges of the latter to a place below the adjacent axle. Along theinner face of each side sill each of said plates has an upward-directedflange, P which is bolted or riveted to the adjacent side sill. Alongthe edge of each of said plates which is adjacent and parallel to theaxle, is an upward-directed flange, P which extends to or nearly to thelower face of the axle. Between the plates, P, P, is a plate, P, whichextends from the lower edge of one side sill to the lower edge of theother side sill and almost to the plates, P. At each side, the plate, P,has an up-turned flange, P bearing against the inner face of theadjacent side sill. Along its forward and along its rear edge said platehas an upward-directed flange, P, which extends o or almost to theadjacent axle.

These three plates form a floor which is below the level of the axlesand along the lower edges of the side sills and is continuous exceptingfor the gap below each exle. The up-turned flanges, P and P serve toprevent coal or other material carried by the car from lodging orwedging under the axles when the car is turned for dumping. Furthermore,these gaps in the floor of the car reduce resistance to the flexibilityabove described as serving to allow the car wheels to rest fully uponthe track rails, notwithstanding irregularities in said rails. Thefianging of the side edges of the plates permits yielding between thesills and the plates, whereby the side sills are given more freedom forflexing, the flanges of the plates flexing during the twisting of theframe.

The car shown by Figs. 13 and let is also intended for dumping in arotary tipple which turns on an axial line which is parallel to thelength of the track. In this form, a continuous plate, Q, is located atthe level of the lower edges of the sills and extends from one end sillto the other and from one side sill to the other and has its edgesriveted or bolted to the lower faces of the sills. To prevent coal orother material from lodging or wedging between the axles and the bottom,an angle-form baffle plate, Q}, is placed upon the floor beneath andparallel to each axle, said plates being riveted or bolted to the floor.The bottom plate, Q, is preferably to be made as thin as is consistentwith the service which said plate is to perform; that service beingmerely the supporting of the material which the car is to carry, theplate, because it is thin, having only a subordinate part in resistingdrooping of the car body and in longitudinal strains due to end thrustor train pull.

Attention is again asked to the desirability of placing the load closethe track rails, in order that the car may be adapted to carry a maximumload where there is low head room and in order that the car may havegreater stability on the track.

I claim as my invention,

1. In a car of the kind described, the combination of a frame comprisingend sills and side sills, axles applied to the side sills above thelower edges of said sills, a stationary floor structure extending belowthe axles and from one side sill to the other and secured to the sidesills, the frame formed by the end sills and the side sills beingflexible but strong enough to resist downward strains and end thrust andlongitudinal pull, and the floor structure being strong enough tosupport the materlals put into the car and not strong enough to materially interfere with the twisting of said frame, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of suflicient strength to resist downwardload strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axles applied tothe side sills above the lower edges of the latter, a stationary floor,the major part of which is below the level of the axles and has 1ts sideedges extending to and secured to the side sills, said floor beingstrong enough to support the materials put into the car and being devoidof such strength and form as will materially resist twisting of saidframe, substantially as described.

3. In car of the kind described, the com bination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of suiiicient strength tore 'sistdownward load strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axlesapplied to materially resist twisting of said frame, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of sufficient strength to resist downwardload strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axles applied tothe side sills above the lower edges of the latter, stationary floorplates lying chiefly below the level of the axles and meeting near saidaxles and having their side edges ex tending to and secured to the sidesills and one of each pair of meeting edges of said plates having aflange directed toward the other edge of said pair of edges, and saidfloor plates being only strong enough to support the materials put intothe car and being devoid of such strength and form as will resistbending of said frame, substantially as described.

5. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of sulflcient strength to resist downwardload strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axles applied tosaid sills above the lower edges of the latter, a floor sectionbeginning at one end sill and extending below the level of the axles andextending thence to the adjacent axle at approximately the level of saidaxle, a second floor section extending under said axle and extendingthence to the next axle at approximately the height of said axle, and athird floor section extending under said second axle and extendingthence to the next end sill at approximately the level of the upper faceof said end sill, and all said sections extending from one side sill tothe other and having their edges secured to said sills, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of suflicient strength to resist downwardload strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axles applied tosaid sills above the lower edges of the latter. a floor sectionbeginning at one end sill and extending below the level of the axles andextending thence to the adjacent axle at approximately the level of saidaxle, a second floor section extending under said axle and extendingthence to the next axle at approximately the height of said axle. and athird floor section extending under said second axle and extendingthence to the next end sill at approximatelv the level of the upper faceof said end sill, and one of each pair of meeting edges of said sectionshaving a flange directed toward the other edge of said pair of edges,and all said sections extending from one side sill to the other andhaving their edges secured to said sills, substantially as described.

7. In a car of the kind described, the com bination of end sills andside sills forming a flexible frame of suiiicient strength to resistdownward load strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axlesapplied to said sills above the lower edges of the latter, a floorsection beginning at one end sill and extending below the level of theaxles and extending thence to the adjacent axle at approximately thelevel of said axle, a second floor section extending under said axle andextending thence to the next axle at approximately the height of saidaxle, and a third floor section extending under said second axle andextending thence to the next end sill at approximately the level of theupper face of said end sill, and the lower of each pair of meeting edgesof said sections having a flange directed upward toward the other edgeof said pair of edges, and all said sections extending from one sidesill to the other and having their edges secured to said sills,substantially as described.

8. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of suflicient strength to resist downwardload strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axles applied tothe side sills above the lower edges of the latter, stationary floorplates lying chiefly below the level of the axles and meeting near saidaxles and having upward-directed side edge flanges secured to the sidesills, said floor plates being strong enough to support the materialsput into the car and being devoid of such strength and form as willmaterially resist bending of said frame, substantially as described.

9. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills and sidesills forming a flexible frame of suflicient strength to resist downwardload strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axles applied tothe side sills above the lower edges of the latter, stationary floorplates lying chiefly below the level of the axles and meeting near saidaxles and having upward-directed side edge flanges secured to the sidesills and one of each pair of meeting edges of said plates having aflange directed toward the other edge of said pair of edges, and saidfloor plates being only strong enough to support the materials put intothe car and being devoid of such strength and form as will resistbending of said frame, substantially as described.

10. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills andside sills forming a flexible frame of sufficient strength to resistdownward load strains and end thrust and longitudinal strains, axlesapplied to said sills above the lower edges of the latter, a floorsection beginning at one end sill and extending below the level of theaxles and extending thence to the adjacent axle at approximately thelevel of said axle, a second floor section extending under said axle andextending thence to the next axle at approximately the height of saidaxle, and a third floor section extending under said second axle andextending thence to the next end sill at approximately the level of theupper face of said end sill, and all said sections extending from oneside sill to the other and having side edge flanges secured to saidsills, substantially as described.

11. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills andside sills forming a frame, axles applied to said sills above the loweredges of the sills, a floor section beginning at one end sill andextending below the level of the top of the adjacent axle and extendingthence to the adjacent axle at approximately the level of said axle, asecond floor section beginning adjacent said axle and below the level ofthe top of said axle and extending thence to the next axle atapproximately the height of said axle, and a third floor sectionbeginning adjacent the second axle and below the level of the top ofsaid axle and extending thence to the next end sill at approximately thelevel of the sill and one of each pair of meeting edges of said sectionshaving a flange directed toward the other edge of said pair of edges,and all said sections extending from one side sill to the other andhaving their edges secured to said sills, substantially as described.

12. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills andside sills forming a frame, axles applied to said sills above the loweredges of the sills, a floor section beginning at one end sill andextending below the level of the top of the adjacent axle and extendingthence to the adjacent axle at approximately the level of said axle, asecond floor section beginning adjacent said axle and below the level ofthe top of said axle and extending thence to the next axle atapproximately the height of said axle, and a third floor sectionbeginning adjacent the second axle and below the level of the top of thesecond axle and extending thence to the next end sill at approximatelythe level of the upper face of said end sill, and the lower of each pairof meeting edges of said sections having a flange directed upward towardthe other edge of said pair of edges, and all said sections extendingfrom one side sill to the other and having their edges secured to saidsills, substantially as described.

13. In a car of the kind described, the combination of end sills andside sills forming a frame, axles applied to the side sills above thelower edges of the latter, stationary floor plates lying chiefly belowthe level of the top of the axles and meeting near said axles and havingupward-directed side edge flanges secured to the side sills and one ofeach pair of meeting edges of said plates having aflange directed towardthe other edge of said pair of edges, substantially as described.

14. In a car of the kind described, the pombination of end sills andside sills forming a frame, axles applied to said side sills above thelower edges of the sills, a floor section beginning at one end sill andextending below the level of the top of the adjacent axle and extendingthence to said axle at approximately the level of said axle, a secondfloor section beginning adjacent said axle and below the level of thetop of said axle and extending thence to the next axle one.

HUGH W. SANFORD.

